286 verses — that's the length of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Quran's longest surah. Besides its length, it also contains well-known verses like Ayat al-Kursi and Amana ar-Rasulu. Below: why Al-Baqarah is so long, its general content, and a ranking of the 5 longest surahs.
Which is the longest surah in the Quran?
- Surah Al-Baqarah — 286 verses (the 2nd surah, the longest)
- Surah Ash-Shu'ara — 227 verses
- Surah Al-A'raf — 206 verses
- Surah Aal-e-Imran — 200 verses
- Surah As-Saffat — 182 verses
The Longest Surah: Al-Baqarah
The longest surah in the Quran is Surah Al-Baqarah (the 2nd surah), with 286 verses. Revealed during the Medinan period, this surah takes its name from the word "baqarah" (cow) mentioned in a story within it; the surah as a whole is not about a cow — this is simply a naming that points to a story contained within the surah. You can read and listen to Surah Al-Baqarah's Arabic text, translation, and audio recording on our Surah Al-Baqarah page.
Why Is Surah Al-Baqarah So Long?
Surah Al-Baqarah addresses together many topics the community faced during the Medinan period as a newly forming Muslim community (acts of worship, family law, debt and trade relationships, rulings on warfare, stories of the prophets). The general tendency of Medinan surahs to give detailed treatment to social rulings is one of the fundamental reasons for Al-Baqarah's length; unlike the short, dense style of Meccan surahs, which emphasize more the oneness of God and the afterlife, a more comprehensive and detailed style was adopted during the Medinan period.
What Does Surah Al-Baqarah Cover?
The surah covers a wide range of topics, including the story of Adam and Iblis, Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma'il building the Kaaba, the stories of Prophet Musa and the Children of Israel, fasting, the qibla, hajj, marriage and divorce, inheritance, and debt relationships. Ayat al-Kursi (2:255) and Amanar-Rasulu (2:285-286), found within the surah, are among the most frequently recited and memorized verses in the Quran.
Is the Quran's Longest Verse Also in Al-Baqarah?
Yes — verse 282, the Quran's longest verse (the verse on debt/contracts, which advises putting debt agreements in writing), is also found in Surah Al-Baqarah. Containing both the longest surah and the longest verse makes Al-Baqarah one of the most extensive sections of the Quran in terms of volume.
Ranking of the 5 Longest Surahs
By verse count, the 5 longest surahs are: Al-Baqarah (286 verses), Ash-Shu'ara (227 verses), Al-A'raf (206 verses), Aal-e-Imran (200 verses), and As-Saffat (182 verses). Four of these surahs are Meccan, while one (Aal-e-Imran, along with Al-Baqarah) is Medinan; this shows that length does not depend solely on the Meccan/Medinan distinction, but also on the scope of the subject a surah addresses. See our 114 Surahs page to compare the verse counts of all surahs.
Suggestions for Reading/Listening to Surah Al-Baqarah
Because of its length, dividing Surah Al-Baqarah into juz-by-juz or story-block sections rather than finishing it in a single sitting is more sustainable for most people. The surah spans 3 juz (roughly juz 1-3); you can follow these sections on our 30 Juz Index page.
Narrations on the Virtue of Reading Surah Al-Baqarah
According to a narration frequently cited about Surah Al-Baqarah, reciting it regularly in a home is a means of protecting that home from a certain evil. While such narrations appear in hadith sources, it is more accurate to understand them not as a definite guarantee or a magical effect, but as encouragement pointing to the general spiritual benefit of regular Quran recitation. The surah's length and comprehensive content already, on their own, give a person broad knowledge of rulings and stories when read regularly.
Which Juz Does Surah Al-Baqarah Span?
The 286 verses of Surah Al-Baqarah fill most of the Quran's first 3 juz: the surah begins partway through the 1st juz and continues to near the start of the 3rd juz. This is one of the most striking examples in the Quran of a single surah spanning 3 separate juz. For those who want to set aside at least 2-3 days for reading Surah Al-Baqarah during a khatm, this information is a useful reference for planning their reading pace.
The 10 Longest Surahs by Verse Count
By verse count, the 10 longest surahs are: Al-Baqarah (286), Ash-Shu'ara (227), Al-A'raf (206), Aal-e-Imran (200), As-Saffat (182), An-Nisa (176), Al-An'am (165), Ta-Ha (135), At-Tawbah (129), and An-Nahl (128). Seven of these 10 surahs are Meccan, and 3 (Al-Baqarah, Aal-e-Imran, An-Nisa) are Medinan — a ratio that shows length depends not only on the period of revelation but also on the scope of the subject a surah covers. Because individual verses vary widely in length, rankings by word or page count can shift slightly — for instance, although Ash-Shu'ara has a high verse count, a significant portion of its verses are short.
A Reading Plan for Surah Al-Baqarah
Rather than finishing all 286 verses in a single sitting, dividing them into sections is more sustainable for most people. Three sample paces: a 7-day plan reads roughly 41 verses a day, a 14-day plan roughly 20-21 verses a day, and a 30-day plan roughly 9-10 verses a day. In sections with denser long verses (such as the inheritance and debt verses), pacing by page rather than verse count can be more balanced; if translation and brief commentary are added alongside, setting aside more time accordingly is natural.
Are the Longest Surah And the Longest Verse in the Same Place?
Yes. Just as the Quran's longest surah is Al-Baqarah, its longest verse is also found in Al-Baqarah — verse 282, which advises putting debt agreements in writing and is known as the "verse of debt contracts" (ayat al-mudayanah). The verse sets out detailed principles for recording debts in writing, setting a term, taking witnesses, and protecting both parties' rights. Containing both the longest surah and the longest verse makes Al-Baqarah one of the most extensive sections of the Quran by volume; the surah's length shows that faith, in the Quran's own framing, concerns not only individual worship but also trustworthy social relationships and record-keeping.
Practical Plan
You can visit our Surah Al-Baqarah page to listen to the surah's Arabic text, translation, and audio recording.
Al-Baqarah, the Quran's longest surah, is one of the most comprehensive sections of the Quran in both content and volume; with its stories, rulings, and famous verses, it also forms a rich starting point for someone newly getting to know the Quran. Those curious about the shortest surah can see our article Which Is the Shortest Surah In the Quran?. For other questions, see our FAQ page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the second-longest surah in the Quran?
By verse count, it is Surah Ash-Shu'ara, with 227 verses.
How many pages is Surah Al-Baqarah?
In the common Medina mushaf layout it runs to roughly 48 pages; this figure can vary depending on the print edition and page layout.
Note: This content is for general information; different schools of thought and scholars may hold differing views. Consult a scholar you trust for personal religious decisions.
Sources
- Tanzil Project — Uthmani Mushaf
- QuranEnc — English Translation
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, 'Bakara Sûresi' maddesi